'02 Camry upgrading stock system, about $500 budget.

[ggusta]

Hello everyone,

1st post please don't shoot!!

I want to upgrade the hu to wife's Camry, 2002 which has stock jbl speakers that I plan to keep. I am pretty set on the Kenwood bt958hd, want Bluetooth and HD radio. It also has some other bells and whistles it goes about $150- $160. I'd like to keep the stock speakers and also thinking to have an 8" mid bass [edit] added to the back deck if it fits. Looking at Rock-Fos.pps4-8 (avail in 4 or 8 ohm), but not committed. They're about $120/pair. Also looking at adding a r-f amp R400-4D 400 Class-D 4-Channel Amplifier. $140. Not sure if that's going to be enough amp. I am not going to do the install.

Is this sensible? Or would alternative combinations be better? Do I need an additional amp?

Not interested in big booming bass just good clean lower mids and louder and pleasant accurate soundstage. Not looking to win a prize just a good healthy upgrade. Any suggestions on using the budget more wisely or questions are welcome.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

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[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

Those are pro audio mids if I'm not mistaken. They are not designed for what you are looking for. Also imo skip anything Rockford unless it's pre China rockford.

 

[ggusta]

If not Rockford, then please suggest alternatives.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

You don't want mid bass behind you, it gets into the range you can easily point out. Mid bass is for the up front bass to help the sound stage. The easiest way to get that is sealing up the doors and upgrading to stronger mid ranges. Stuff that can pick up 60-80hz strong.

I would start with sealing the doors and adding a small 50x4 amp. Drop the ken wood since they are just ok now days and picking up a pioneer 80prs. Don't have HD radio but what it does have is audiophile tuning options and a very good auto tune. You should have stock splits up front so run the 4 channel active, the pioneer is made for that. Unhook any rear speakers. You won't need or want them here

 

[ggusta]

HD radio is kind of a big deal to me. Waaah. Pita consumers!! Lol!//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/offwall.gif.29a91b9b265d47af4b8e33fc5b558d18.gif

I found a couple pioneer hu's with hd r that range from $200-250 just quickly searching. X8700bh is abt $200.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

Do you want a sound stage or toys?

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

If you are going to keep the stock speakers and they are in fact splits up front you must have a way to crossover the mid and tweeter. If not the mid will play to high and the tweeter will play to low and blow. You can either do a active amp or a active HU. The HU will give you A LOT more tuning power. Or you can keep the stock setup and add a JBL MS-8 and use it to power all the interiors.

 

[ggusta]

HD radio is pretty important to me, there are a lot of stations (HD) that I get in my car that I don't get in my wife's car. It's pretty frustrating whenever we're in her car.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

Pandora, iheart, any mobile app? If you must have HD than you need to rethink keeping the stock speakers. It won't work like that. You will need a HU, active amp to run just the fronts and that will raise cost

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

The cheapest active amp I would use that is also really good

JBL MS-A1004 100 Watt x 4-Channel Amplifier https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0040X31KE/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_q-jSub1FCH8AP

 

[ggusta]

Fair enough. So using the pioneer 80prs, what do you suggest?

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

A decent small 4 channel. Alpine and JBL are cost friendly and work as advertised. Make sure the installer knows how to install that HU. They are not quite plug and play but more than worth it. Get those doors sealed up in the process. That's a huge gain for low cost.

 

[ggusta]

OK, thanks a lot for your expertise. If you think k of anything else, don't hesitate to add another post.

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

http://www.caraudio.com/forums/car-audio-build-logs-cars-trucks-suvs/611961-2002-camry-basic-sq-khas-wife.html

same car. this is what i did to get the front speakers sounding great.

the HU in that car is easy to replace. the kit looks decent. you can intercept factory wiring behind the HU - the installer should be using 9C speedwire between the HU and amp. and 4 channel RCA's from HU to amp. tweeters will still need dedicated wiring from the crossover. dash locations work fine for the tweeter.

an active HU isn't necessary to get a great soundstage. the Alpine CDE-HD149BT will outperform the 80PRS in terms of sound quality and ease of use - while using the passive crossovers. HD radio sounds good. iPod, USB, Pandora, all sound good.

 

[ggusta]

http://www.caraudio.com/forums/car-audio-build-logs-cars-trucks-suvs/611961-2002-camry-basic-sq-khas-wife.html
same car. this is what i did to get the front speakers sounding great.

the HU in that car is easy to replace. the kit looks decent. you can intercept factory wiring behind the HU - the installer should be using 9C speedwire between the HU and amp. and 4 channel RCA's from HU to amp. tweeters will still need dedicated wiring from the crossover. dash locations work fine for the tweeter.

an active HU isn't necessary to get a great soundstage. the Alpine CDE-HD149BT will outperform the 80PRS in terms of sound quality and ease of use - while using the passive crossovers. HD radio sounds good. iPod, USB, Pandora, all sound good.

Thanks. Amp or speaker recs for the fronts?

What about when there is some $ for rear mid bass?